Pasco Residents To Show Their Pride During 2nd Annual Festival

PASCO COUNTY — A block party, live entertainment and a parade are among the activities planned as Pasco Pride celebrates its second annual Pride Festival this week.

The festival is intended to foster tolerance and communication between the community and Pasco County's LGBTQ residents.

And, if the list of this year's sponsors is any indication, mainstream businesses are stepping up to support the mission including the presenting sponsor, Volkswagen of New Port Richey.

It's been a long road to acceptance for the LGBTQ community in a county that was once a hotbed of Ku Klux Klan activity.

Even now, Pasco Pride continues to battle to allow disenfranchised LGBTQ students to meet freely at their high schools and to host activities like the monthly Drag Queen Story Hour without attracting mobs of protesters.

But the focus this week, said Pasco Pride President Nina Borders, isn't on the hurdles the LGBTQ community has yet to overcome. It's on the acceptance and tolerance that Pasco Pride has already built and continues to build in Pasco County.

With that in mind, Pasco Pride has organized events intended to unite the community including a block party scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Railroad Square in downtown New Port Richey. DJ Tc Czaritsa Cheremeteff will spin tunes throughout the night as street entertainers perform and local restaurants and bars open their doors.

The block party is a prelude to the main event, the Pasco Pride Festival on Sunday, Oct. 6 at Sims Park in New Port Richey.

The event will include vendors, food trucks and live entertainment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Florida Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith, the state's first openly gay Hispanic representative, and Anna Eskamani, both of Orlando, will be on hand for the opening ceremonies led by the mistress of ceremonies, Mama Ashley Rose, at 10 a.m. The annual Pride march around Orange Lake will begin at 11:45 a.m., followed by the Spheres Bubble Show at noon and Mr. Vyn Suazion on stage at 12:45 p.m.

The much-anticipated Pasco Pride Drag Show begins at 2 p.m. followed by a performance by Larmani at 3 p.m. and closing ceremonies.

Other activities on tap for the week include:

• Thursday, Oct. 3 from 7 to 10 p.m. - A screening of the film, "The Lavender Scare," at the Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey.

The film tells the story of how tens of thousands of homosexual federal workers were either fired or denied employment in the 1950s, stirring outrage in the gay community and starting an LGBTQ rights movement with an unlikely hero at the forefront. Meet the author, David K. Johnson, during a Q&A following the showing. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

• Friday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. - There will be a Pride Kickoff Party at The Asylum, 6153 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey, featuring entertainment by Juno Vibranz, Matcha Tee and Bobbie Lake at 11 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. There will be prizes, raffles, giveaways and drink specials. The cover is $5 after 9 a.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. - The celebration will return to The Asylum for the Pride Festival After-Party with hostess Monica Malone, Miss Asylum Kamden T. Rage and a performance by Mr. and Miss Pasco Pride, Ken Dartanyan and Imani Valentino. Showtimes are at 9 and 11 p.m.